Acetylene generator valve mechanism



Oct. 23; 1945. I R. c. PIERSON 2,387,347}

* ACETYLENE GENERATOR VAIJVE MEC HANIS M Fiied May 1, 1945 INVENTOR RALPH C. PIERSON BY ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 23, 1945 ACETYLENE GENERATOR VALVE i MECHANISM Ralph C. Pierson, Indianapolis, Ind., as signor to Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation, a corporation of New York p p p Application Mayl, 1943, Serial No. 485,302

p 3 Claims.

This invention relates to acetylene generators of the carbide-to-water type, and more particularly to the carbide feed v'alvemechanis'm thereof.

The novel features of the invention are particularly adaptable for use with medium pressure acetylene generators of the type'disclosed in Patcarbide feed valve and operating such valve with" respect to the carbide outlet opening of a carbide hopper,lthe arrangement being such thatwhen the carbide feed leveris actuated in the-one direction, carbide isfed through such opening to water to generate acetylene, and whensuch lever is actuated in the opposite direction, such opening, is closed. In such construction the carbide feed lever is pivotally connectedto a bracket which'is in turn fixed with respect to the carbide hopper. The feed lever isactuated by a pressure controlled, spring opposeddiaphragm and also by a manually operatedfeed lock cam. In manufac turing the generator the parts must be made to" accurate dimensions and carefully assembled so that the carbide feed valve, which is mounted on the lever, willbe in proper position with respect to the carbide'feedopening, because any misalign ment of the valve with the opening results in the leakage of Water vapor from the" generating chamber to the carbide hopper when the generator is not in use, which is very undesirable. In addition, the carbide feed lever must be in proper position with respect to the feedlock cam in both the open and closed positions. Such generators are also subject to the difficulty of positioning the valve in proper vertical positioniwith respect to the opening in the carbide hopper so that the valve will properly close when actuated by the carbide feed lever.

. The main objects of the present invention, therefore, are to provide an improved valve mechanism for feeding granular material by gravity, the elements of whichmechanism may be more quickly assembled and more nicely adjusted than those known to the prior art; an adjustable feed lever and valve arrangement that is not only a time saver in assembling but which is capable of precise and easy adjustment in the field, of the lock cam. w l a In accordance with the invention there is provided in a carbide-to-water acetylene generator, the combination with a carbide hopperhaving an opening provided with an annular valve seat, a carbide feed valve, and a carbide feed valve operating lever, of means connecting the feed valve and the lever comprising a, crank member having one portion the axis of which is generally'concentric with the center of the valve seat and another portion the axis of which is eccentric with the center of the valve seat. One of such portions is connected to the valve off-center with respect to the latter, and the other portion is connected to the lever so that the valve may be adjusted with respect to the lever into axial alignment with the center of the valve seat. The extent of opening movement of the valve is made adjustable by the provision of a set screw on an arm of the lever which cooperates with the feed lock cam and by the provision of threaded connections between the portions of the crank and the valve 'and lever, respectively. The crank member preferably consists of'an eccentric stud bolt connecting the valve and the lever so that alignment as to height and center lines is afforded by rotating the stud and valve with respect to the lever. Suitable lock nuts and washers are provided for securing the parts in adjusted position.

Referring to the drawing: a

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in vertical cross-section and partly in side elevation, of a carbide feeding mechanism exemplifying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the carbide feed lever and associated parts;

thecarbide feed lever'withj respect to the'feed Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in side ele-' vation and partly in vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View partly in top plan and partly in horizontal'section on line 4'-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 of amodification; and

Fig. 6 is a View in end elevation of the cation shown in Fig. 5. I

The invention,as illustrated in the drawing, may be embodied in an acetylene generator of the carbide-to-water type described in Patent No. 2,188,278 and which may include a closed casing of symmetrical contour havinga water containing and gas generating lower portion and. a somewhat similar carbide containing and gas modifistorage upper portion. A carbide hopper H having a downwardly tapering wall or bottom I is mounted Within the upper portion, the margin of the hopper being rigidly secured to the inner wall of the generator, and the lower end of the hopper being provided with a frusto-conical spout I having carbide outlet opening |2 therein. For convenience in attaching adjacent accessories and to facilitate removal of the outlet, the spout II is secured to an annular hopper casting or ring I3 by a plurality of bolts l4 and the ring I3 is rigidly secured alon a suitable opening in the bottom of the hopper by a frusto-conical flange I5. The lower portion of the spout H is provided with a drip flange |6 which ha an internal annular groove adjacent and below the outlet |2, in which an annular compressible valve seat |8 of soft rubber or the like is removably secured by an annular retainer plate l9 and a spring rin 20. seat |8.'is of substantially the same diameter and substantially in axial alignment with the opening l2 with which it cooperates and forms a part, the how of carbide from within the hopper H through the outlet opening |2 being .controlled by a. carbide valve 2| that seats on thevalve seat l8 and'iorm a fluid-tight seal through which no water or mixture can enter the hopper to cause generation of gas when the valve is closed.

. The carbide valve 2| forms a part of a carbide feed and gas pressure control mechanism F which maybe detached from the generator as a unit. The control unit F is fully described in Patent No. 2,106,972 granted to Maurice P. DeMotte .on February 1, 1938 of which Patent No. 2,188,278 is a continuation-in-part. The control unit F includes a flexible diaphragm 22 upon which the gas pressure within the generator is balanced by two compression springs 23 and 24 which are compressed within a housing 25 in operative relation with the diaphragm 2.2 which is operatively connected with the carbide feed valve 2|. The springs 23 and 24 engage a spring pressure plate 26 which engages an inner plate 21. The diaphragm 22 is clamped between the inner plate .2! and an outer plate 28 by a bolt 29 having a nut 30, the bolt '29 having a forked end 3| in which is pivotally secured by a pin 32 the inner end of a link 33. .In the outer end of the link 33 is a slot receiving a pin 34 attached to,

a carbide feed lever 35. The slot and pin 34 form a lost-motion connection between-the diaphragm 32 and the carbide feed lever 35.

The lever 35 is pivotally mounted on a, pin 36 extending across a vertical slot between lugs 31 of a bracket 38 having a flange ring 39. This flange ring 39 is secured by a plurality of bolts 4|] to an outwardly offset flange M on the inner end of the housing .25, the diaphragm 22 being clamped between the ring 39 and the flange 4|.

A spring seat 42 is provided on the carbide feed lever 35 for a compression spring 43 which surrounds the lost-motion connection and extends between the spring seat 42 and the outer plate 28, urging the pin 34 to the right. Suitable means for holding the carbide feed valve closed when desired, such as when the generator is moved or when it is recharged, is provided which includes a. valve closing arm or locking lever 44 integral with the lever 35, and in operative relation with a feed lock cam 45 having cam surfaces 46, 4'! and 48, and a lug 49 which forms part of an interlocking means preventing the maximum opening of the valve 2| until a predetermined pressure has been established in the gen- The opening in the annular valve 5| which is integral with the carbide rapper,

spout According to the present invention, an adjustment feature is provided by a slotted screw 52 having a polygonal head S mounted on the auxiliary arm 44 of the feed 1ever for contacting the feed lock cam 45. The setting of this adjusting screw determines the amount of valve opening obtainable when initially bringing the generator up to operating pressure after the recharging routine (by manually working the external actuating handle of the feed lock cam The adjustment is secured by means'of a cotter pin 53 which passes through the auxiliary arm 44 of the feed lever 35 and a slot 54 in the adjustable screw 52.

According to'the present invention, .a novel valve stem assembly 55 is mounted in a socket T at the free end of the valve lever 35, which assembly comprises an off-center stud bolt or-crank member 56. The center lines or axes of the threaded end portions 57 and 58 of this stud bolt 56 do not coincide, but are parallel. The spherical segment valve 2| is provided with a socket V that is mounted elf-center thereof, as shown, and is threaded on the screw 51, the screw 58 being threaded in the socket T. By virtue of employing such component parts, flexibility is afforded in aligning the valve 2| with the annular valve seat l8 in the opening |2 of the carbide hopper The assembly 55 is likewise adjustable as to height from the free end of the feed lever 35 to the top of the valve 2|. Simplification results thus in the assembly of the generator feed mechanism, since close tolerances are unnecessary to obtain alignment of the valve seat |8 and the regulating spring mechanism prior to installation of the feed lever 35 and the valve 2|. The valve stem assembly 55 includes two lock nuts 59 and 60 on the screws 51 and 58 and two locking Washers 61 and 62. The portions 5! and 58 of the stud bolt 56 are machined with single key ways'63 and .64extendinglongitudinally along the threaded part thereof, the washers being provided with inner tabs 65 which project into the key ways of the stud bolt. The washers are thus prevented from rotating with respect to the stud, but are free to :move longitudinally thereof. When the desired alignment of the valve 2| with the seat I8 is attained, the lock nuts 59 and 66 are turned tight against the washers 6| and' 62 and provide a rigid setting when outer tabs 66 of the washers are bent, as shown, to engage the nuts and the valve and the lever, after all adjustments have been made. It will be obvious that adjustment of the valve 2| as to height and horizontal position is afforded by rotating the stud 56 and valve 2| with respect to the lever 35. Thus, it is possible to adjust the carbide feed valve 2| accurately with respect to the hopper opening |2without mantaining close tolerances in the assembly of the feed control unit, generator body, and carbide hopper. The novel assembly 55 provides means for centering the valve as well as for adjusting it upwardly or downwardly, and the lock nuts and washers secure the assembled parts the offset screw portions 51 and 5B. A modification is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein the means connecting the valve 2| and the valve operating 1 device 35, comprises a crank member 61 having one screw portion 38 the axis of which is generally concentric with the center of the annular valve seat and another screw portion 69 the axis of which is eccentric with the center of the valve seat, the portion 69 being threaded to T, the eccentric socket V of the valve 2| and the portion 58 being threaded to thefree end socket T of the device 35, .so that the valve 2| may be adjusted with respect to the device 35 into axial alignment with the center of the annular valve seat. Locknuts III and 1| on screw portions 68 and 69 are used to secure the parts in adjusted position, the nuts being physically deformed to prevent any rotation between the parts. The eccentric arrangement of the screws 68 and 69 provides means for aligning the free end of the feed lever, the feed valve, and the valve seat; the eccentric screws also permit adjustment of the height of the feed valve above the lever, as pointed out above in connection with Figs. 1 through 4.

In the position of the feeding mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the cam 45 has been rotated clockwise to bring the cam surface 46 into engagement with the head S of the screw 52 on the arm 44, thereby forcing this am upwardly and locking the feed valve 2| in closed position. The residual pres- 1 sure in the generating chamber will cause the diaphragm 22 to remain in a position somewhat to the left of the position it assumed when the valve 2| is open to admit carbide. The springs 23 and 24 will be under compression and the pin 34 will be at or near the right hand end of the slot in the link 33. If the generator remains idle for a considerable period of time, or if the residual gas is drawn off, the drop in gas pressure will permit the springs 23 and 24 to force the diaphragm 22 to the right. The feed lever 35 remains staenter the generating chamber by said initial open-- ing movement of the valve 2| reacts with the water therein to generate acetylene gas at a rate just suflicient to cause the pressure to slowly increase. As the pressure rises within the generating chamber, the diaphragm 22 is moved to the left and closes the valve 2|. The arm 44 and the head S of screw 52 will then have moved upwardly to their full extent and in this position of the head S the cam 45 may be further rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to move the lock 49 beneath the screw head S and pass the same, bringing the cam surface 48 below the screw head S. When this cam surface 46 is so disposed below the screw head S, the valve 2| may open to its full extent and is then fully under control of the automatic feed control unit.

When it is desired to stop the generation of acetylene gas, the operator will rotate the cam 45 clockwise until the cam surface 46 strikes the screw 52 forcing the arm 44 upwardly and CIOSil'l the feed valve 2|.

While the invention is shown and described as embodied in a carbide-to-water acetylene generator, it is to be understood that it may be embodied in like devices which involve the feedin of other solid materials by gravity, without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with an annular valve seat, a valve, and a valve operating device,of means connecting said valve and said device comprising a crank member having one portion the axis of which is generally concentric with'the center of said annular valve seat and another portion the axis of which is eccentric with the center of said valve seat, one of said portions being connected to said valve eccentrically thereof and the other portion being connected to said device so that said valve may be adjusted with respect to said device into axial alignment with said annular valve seat.

2. The combination with a valve and an operating device, of a crank member having an end screw threaded to an eccentric socket on said valve and an end screw threaded to a socket on said device.

3. The combination with a valve and an operating device, of a crank member having an end screw threaded to an eccentric socket on said valve and an end screw threaded to a socket on said device, and lock nuts on said screws enga ing said valve and device, respectively, for securing the said parts in adjusted position.

RALPH C. PIERSON. 

